TCTC gets 5-star rating | News, sports, jobs

CHAMPION – The Trumbull Career and Technical Center received five stars on the recent 2023-2024 state report card, marking an increase of 4.5 stars from the previous school year.

High school principal Paula Baco said the five-star rating is based on 2023 graduates, post-program placement and on-the-job learning hours, which students track to see if they are working, serving in the military or go to college or trade school.

That success is attributed to a literacy initiative that includes reading in all subjects.

“We did well with technical skills scores and student performance on end-of-course exams, which took us from 4.5 to five stars,” Baco said. “We have been successful in highlighting student achievements.”

She said 2022-2023 was the first year the state awarded stars to joint vocational schools, which previously received an overall grade.

Baco said TCTC earned five stars for graduation rate, career and postsecondary readiness and ACT scores. In post-program results to see what students do three to six months after graduation, the school achieved four stars, and also four stars in performance.

“We have always had to monitor students. That’s a benchmark that technology centers have always had. We came up with the three Es program: we checked whether students were working, enrolled or enrolled in a college, university or an internship program,” Baco said.

She said career center report cards are different than home school district report cards. Baco said home schools don’t measure career technology follow-up the way joint vocational schools do.

Secondary schools are measured by student performance in math, science, English and history at the end of the course.

“We are proud of the fact that we increased our Technical Career Assessment scores with our focus on literacy and that 61.8% of students achieved an industry degree,” Baco said.

She said the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce is big on graduating students who earn industry credentials, including licenses in various fields such as nursing, dental assisting and cosmetology.

“The students not only completed their program, but also earned the certification they needed to advance in their field,” Baco said.

TCTC Superintendent Jason Gray said he was proud of the work of the students and staff in achieving the five-star rating.